Ecomm Breakthrough

Steve Yates, CEO of Prime Guidance and former retail strategist at Amazon, shares his insights on scaling e-commerce brands. He emphasizes optimizing your Amazon presence before branching out to other marketplaces like Walmart and eBay. Steve advises launching a direct-to-consumer website early to build customer loyalty and enhance your brand's visibility. He discusses key optimization strategies for Amazon listings, the importance of targeted advertising, and tools for tracking performance, ensuring brands grow efficiently and profitably.

Mo Elhawary, a creative strategist known for scaling D2C brands in health and beauty, shares his insights on driving Shopify sales. He highlights the importance of analyzing financial data and addressing trust issues among founders. Discover how cross-channel marketing affects sales, with insights into Meta and Amazon influence. Mo also offers strategic advice on customer personas, creative production, and effective use of UGC. Learn actionable tips on testing at scale and the art of crafting compelling narratives for brands.

Kris Gramlich, an experienced Amazon FBA seller and Sellozo account executive, dives into the intriguing world of customer engagement strategies. He unveils the power of product insert cards with QR codes that direct customers to landing pages for free gifts, enhancing loyalty. Kris stresses the importance of providing value instead of soliciting reviews to evade penalties. He also discusses sourcing local gifts, leveraging influencer marketing, and utilizing engaging email follow-ups, all to foster customer relationships and boost repeat business.

Bill is a 4x founder, a serial entrepreneur, and currently the VP of Corporate Development at FoodScience, LLC, a leading provider of science-based wellness solutions for both humans and pets. With a strong focus on quality, innovation, and trust, FoodScience has been quietly building and acquiring some of the most exciting wellness brands in the market today.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Bill D'Alessandro's experience in e-commerce and business acquisitions.Challenges faced by e-commerce brands regarding profitability and financial literacy.Importance of understanding contribution margins, fixed costs, and clean accounting records.Transitioning from cash basis to accrual accounting for better financial clarity.The significance of accurate inventory accounting and cost of goods sold (COGS).The necessity of cash flow forecasting and its role in financial health.Strategies for effective team management and the importance of hiring quality talent.The role of life insurance policies as a source of low-cost capital for businesses.Recommendations for improving accounting practices and financial oversight.Insights on leveraging AI tools for problem-solving in e-commerce operations.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Bill D’Alessandro, VP of Corporate Development at Food Science and a seasoned e-commerce entrepreneur. Bill shares insights from building and selling the Natural Dog Company, discusses common financial pitfalls in e-commerce, and stresses the importance of clean accounting, cash flow forecasting, and management-level talent. He also explores strategic uses of AI, long-term financial planning, and team building for scaling businesses. The episode offers actionable advice for founders on profitability, financial literacy, and preparing for sustainable growth or acquisition, with a special focus on the pet wellness industry.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Know Your Real Numbers – Stop chasing revenue vanity metrics. Understand your contribution margins, switch to accrual accounting, and review your P&L monthly so you can make data-driven decisions.Protect Your Cash Flow – Build a rolling 3–6 month cash flow forecast, negotiate supplier terms early, and secure lines of credit before you need them to avoid costly cash crunches.Invest in A-Players, Not Assistants – You can’t scale to eight figures with low-cost help alone. Hire experienced operators who can own functions, drive accountability, and free you to focus on strategy.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comQuickBooksFinale InventoryEcom CPAChatGPTNatural Dog CompanyMorgan Stanley Capital PartnersFood SciencePortland Leather GoodsPlain Talk by Ken IversonBill DA's Personal WebsiteBill DA on X (formerly Twitter)Special Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorThis episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaBill D'Alessandro 00:00:00  A lot of brands aren't thinking about it that way. And then they're also not really disciplined around looking at their PNL with a contribution margin and then kind of a fixed cost section. And like trusting their numbers when they get their QuickBooks file at the end of the month, that that number in the QuickBooks file actually represents how they did, and they feel confident in that number, and they manage the business according to that number. That is like less than 10% of brands. So that's actually a lot of what I do.MC 00:00:32  Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take your business to the next level.Josh Hadley 00:00:46  Ever wonder why you don't have enough money in your bank account, or wondering why you have to continue to take out loans on an ongoing basis? Today's guest is going to teach you why and how to see it coming in advance. Vance, welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast.Josh Hadley 00:01:00  I'm your host, Josh Hadley. I scaled my own brand from 0 to 8 figures in sales, and now my mission is to take it to over nine figures on my journey to nine figures, I bring you unfiltered conversations with the smartest minds in eCommerce. Past guests include Kevin King, Michael E Gerber, author of the E! Myth, and Brandon Young. Today, I am giving you the real strategies and systems we I am well, I'm pleased to welcome a powerhouse in the CPG and wellness space. Bill D'Alessandro. Bill is a four time founder and serial entre...

In this episode, Amazon algorithm expert Mark Casey shares insights on how sellers can optimize product rankings. He explains the importance of shopper behavior, external traffic, and consistent sales for Amazon’s algorithm. Mark discusses effective product launch strategies, including leveraging a shopper network, running PPC campaigns, and the significance of the FBA “honeymoon period.” He also offers tips for reviving older listings and highlights the tailored services provided by his company, House of AMZ. Listeners receive exclusive discounts on product launches and listing optimization services.Chapters:Introduction to Mark Casey and House of AMZ (00:00:00)Host introduces Mark Casey, his background, and the founding of House of AMZ.Amazon Algorithm Overview (00:01:09)Mark explains key factors Amazon’s algorithm considers for product ranking, focusing on shopper behavior and engagement.FBM vs. FBA Launches & Honeymoon Period (00:03:26)Discussion on launching via FBM versus FBA, the impact on conversion rates, and the Amazon honeymoon period.Case Study: Launching a Competitive Supplement (00:05:17)Mark shares a case study on launching a premium supplement, emphasizing branding, graphics, and shopper feedback.Shopper Network & Feedback Loops (00:06:41)Explanation of using a shopper network for feedback, image testing, and optimizing listings before launch.Long-Term Launch Strategy & Consistency (00:07:31)Mark details a 15-30 day launch strategy with consistent daily sales and external traffic for sustainable ranking.Combining External Traffic, Shopper Network, and PPC (00:10:07)Discussion on integrating external traffic, shopper network purchases, and PPC campaigns for optimal product launches.Three Actionable Takeaways for Sellers (00:10:58)Host summarizes three key strategies: building an audience, leveraging surveys and external traffic, and revitalizing old listings.Revitalizing Old Listings & Review Management (00:14:09)Advice on rejuvenating older products, merging ASINs, relaunching, and managing negative reviews.House of AMZ Services & Special Offers (00:15:29)Mark describes House of AMZ services, special discounts for listeners, and how to contact the company.Podcast Closing & Contact Information (00:16:41)Final remarks, website details, and encouragement for listeners to connect with House of AMZ.Links and Mentions:Tools and ServicesPickFuPost Purchase ProASIN DoctorWebsitesHouse of AMZPodcast EpisodeEcomm Breakthrough Podcast's Episode with Kevin KingTranscripts:Josh 00:00:00  Today, I'm excited to introduce you to Mark Casey. For the past seven years, Mark has studied the Amazon algorithm to understand how it works and how we can work along with it to rank products. He has traveled the world to speak and share these techniques with the largest sellers worldwide. Mark's personal background is marketing and branding. Having brands of his own, along with his Amazon knowledge working under the nine figure brand, combining those together is how House of arms was born. Where Mark can help is to optimize your products and brand not only for the outside world, but mainly on Amazon, which is its own ecosystem in itself. So welcome to the podcast, Mark.Mark 00:00:41  Thank you very much. Yeah. Good morning. How are you?Josh 00:00:44  Hey, I'm doing great. Thanks again for joining me. And I apologize for my voice, both to the listeners and to yourself. I lost my voice coaching, hockey practice and yelling, shouting at the kids. because there's multiple teams on the ice. So you have to speak relatively loud.Josh 00:01:03  And, it did my voice in, that's for sure. So I apologize about that.Mark 00:01:07  Oh, good. Yeah. No worries.Josh 00:01:09  Mark, you've studied the algorithm for seven years. You I would argue you would consider yourself an expert when it comes to ranking products on Amazon. So tell us, you know, can you break down the Amazon algorithm to our listeners and tell us what you are seeing that Amazon cares about when it comes to ranking products today?Mark 00:01:31  So if you have another six hours, I could do well, I could go in depth. no. But so yeah, there's a lot I mean, well, first of all, a lot of things change within the Amazon algorithm. Many, many things like it's always changing, evolving and growing and it's there's so much to it. But what I always like to break it down and explain to people in a very simple way is that every little thing that the shopper does, Amazon takes into account, and what that means is every little thing from how you clicked and how you even got.Mark 00:02:02  How you even got to Amazon, you know, backing up all the way there, how you got to Amazon, what keyword you search when you got there, how long like every little point in detail. So really. So we we really broke it down and saw okay. So someone goes on the listing onto Amazon. Where do they come from. Do they come from a Facebook ad. Do they come from a referral from let's say, WhatsApp from their friend? and then once they once they're on Amazon, what what keyword do they type in? Once they type in the keyword, how long were they on the results page for? Once you're on the results page, what listings did they click? So meaning did they just click on yours and others? Do they go on others and then yours? Or was it just yours now and on the listing. Right. So let's say I type in sports water bottle and I click on your listing. Now how long are you on the listing for. Is it just you saw it and you add it to cart right away and you're done.Mark 00:02:51  It was an instant purchase. or was it something that you engaged with the listing. So Amazon looks if they engage with the listing and they looked at the reviews and the pictures and they really invested five minutes under the listing to look at it and do everything and added it to cart. That's where you're going to get the success because Amazon sees that you really invest the time. So all these small little details app is what Amazon takes into account with their algorithm. And that's what gives you kind of like the power. But there's a lot obviously a lot more to it. But just just to break it down for you on kind of what it insists.Josh 00:03:26  Yeah, I love that. Let's go back to. You mentioned launching your product first via FBM, and that you're saying that the honeymoon period doesn't really start until it goes into FBA. So my question with that is, you know, I guess you have data to back that up. Is that true?Mark 00:03:45  Yeah, we've tested it out and we've saw that once it hits FBA and it's available to be shipped, then that's when Amazon's going to start pushing your listing.Mark 00:03:53  Right now if it's FBM they're not going to push your listing. They want they want to show the results which are the people that they can click and order right now. And it's going to get to them in two days or less.Josh 00:04:03  Okay, so when you launch via FBM, is your conversion rate lower during that time? Because people aren't being aren't able to get their product in two days, right?Mark 00:04:14  Probably would be lower, yes. Because everyone looks for that prime badge w...

Bryce Keffeler brings a rare combination of deep financial expertise, entrepreneurial insight, and a proven track record of helping high-growth businesses scale and stay wealthy. I’m thrilled to welcome Bryce Keffeler, Managing Partner at Dew Wealth Management — a firm that’s not only been named a Great Place to Work, but has also made the Inc. 5000 list four years in a row. Bryce specializes in helping business owners grow, manage, and protect their wealth using family office-level strategies — think M&A, investment consulting, and financial structures designed for 10x growth. Before Dew, he worked in corporate M&A at Intel and has since become a serial problem-solver for founders navigating complex exits or aggressive scaling.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Financial strategies for e-commerce business ownersBusiness structuring options (LLC vs. S corp vs. C corp)Tax minimization techniques and their implicationsImportance of defining business goals (sell vs. cash flow)Challenges in cash conversion cycles for inventory-heavy businessesDevelopment of a model P&L for financial decision-makingImpact of advertising costs on profitability and business valuationExit planning and factors influencing business valuationImportance of working with fiduciary financial advisorsAdvanced tax strategies for entrepreneurs, including R&D tax credits and IC-DISCIn this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Bryce Keffeler, managing partner at Dew Wealth Management. They discuss essential financial strategies for e-commerce entrepreneurs, including business structuring for tax efficiency, balancing profitability versus growth, and advanced tax-saving tactics. Bryce shares insights on preparing for business exits, optimizing cash flow, and the importance of working with fiduciary advisors. The episode also highlights practical tools, recommended resources, and Bryce’s new book, offering actionable advice for entrepreneurs aiming to build, protect, and maximize their wealth.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Define Your Endgame EarlyDecide if you’re building to sell or to cash flow—this choice drives every decision from business structure to tax strategy. Align your CPA and wealth advisor around that goal now.Build a Model P&L and Track It QuarterlySet target percentages for COGS, ad spend, SG&A, and profit margins (aim for 15%+). Review quarterly and make cuts or optimizations when you miss targets.Assemble a Proactive Wealth TeamWork only with fiduciary advisors and tax strategists who plan ahead, not just file returns. Ask: “Are you a fiduciary at all times?” before hiring anyone.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comDew Wealth ManagementInc 5000Comet Web Browser (by Perplexity)PerplexityMichael Gerber - Author of 'The E-Myth'Brandon YoungRadical Candor by Kim ScottChatGPTAlex HormoziSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorThis episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaBryce Keffeler 00:00:00  What's our goal with this business? I know, Josh, you and I were kind of just talking about this. Are we building this business to sell, or are we building this business to harvest cash flow and building our personal, balancing our wealth from the profits that it made? So I think that's the first critical determination that needs to be made. And it needs to be made off of, like, what are we actually trying to do here? Because that's going to change the entire structuring of the business. And so specifically what I'm talking about there is that most business owners, most of the common business owners start as an LLC. And then generally they make the S Corp election because making the S Corp election allows you to essentially pay yourself a W-2 income, and then you don't have to pay self-employment taxes on all of your profit, so you're saving up to 15.3%, which is your self-employment tax. So that's really smart. In order to minimize self-employment taxes, if you are dependent and want to really cashflow your business personally.Bryce Keffeler 00:00:49  But if you're really building your business to sell, you may actually want to.Intro 00:00:52  Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business. You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take your business to the next level.Josh Hadley 00:01:06  Are you tired of making millions in revenue on Amazon, but looking at your bank account and wondering why you don't have any money left in the bank? This isn't just about making money online. It's about creating a financial strategy that could set you up for life. And today's guest kn...

In this episode of the Econ Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh interviews Chad Rubin, operations and strategy leader at Profasee. Chad discusses the critical role of dynamic, AI-driven pricing for e-commerce and Amazon sellers, sharing how continuous price optimization can boost profits without sacrificing sales rank. He offers actionable advice on leveraging AI tools, strengthening business operations, and building strong supplier relationships. Chad also recommends influential books and software for entrepreneurs, and emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with trusted advisors. The conversation provides practical strategies for sellers aiming to thrive in a competitive, ever-changing marketplace.Chapters:Introduction to Chad Rubin and Profasee (00:00:00)Josh introduces Chad Rubin, his background, and his role at Profasee, focusing on e-commerce and AI-driven pricing.Why Pricing Matters in E-commerce (00:00:37)Chad explains his focus on pricing, its impact on profitability, and why many sellers neglect price optimization.The Fear of Raising Prices and Real-World Example (00:02:01)Josh discusses common fears around raising prices and shares a personal example of increasing prices without losing sales rank.Dynamic Pricing vs. Static Pricing (00:03:57)Chad describes Profasee’s approach to dynamic pricing, the importance of adjusting prices, and the Amazon flywheel effect.Dynamic Pricing in Other Industries (00:05:28)Josh compares dynamic pricing in e-commerce to revenue management in airlines and emphasizes the need for ongoing price adjustments.Three Actionable Takeaways for Sellers (00:06:13)Josh summarizes three key takeaways: focus on profits/pricing, incorporate AI, and strengthen organizational structure and supplier relationships.The Importance of Level 10 Meetings and Team Alignment (00:08:38)Josh highlights the value of EOS Level 10 meetings for organizational clarity and leadership alignment.Most Influential Books for Entrepreneurs (00:09:41)Chad recommends "The 4-Hour Workweek" and other books that influenced his entrepreneurial journey.Favorite and Game-Changing Software Tools (00:11:27)Chad shares his favorite software tools, including Ellie and Notion, for productivity and business management.Mentors and Influential People in E-commerce (00:12:31)Chad discusses the importance of surrounding yourself with trusted advisors and names key people he respects in the industry.How to Connect with Chad Rubin and Profasee (00:14:46)Chad provides contact information and ways to connect with him and learn more about Profasee.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites  Profasee  ChatGPT Ellie.com Notion  Books  The 4-Hour Workweek" by Tim Ferriss on Amazon The Almanack of Naval Ravikant  The Great CEO Within People Mentioned  Brandon YoungTranscript:Josh 00:00:00  Today, I'm super excited to introduce you to Chad Rubin. Chad leads prophecies operations and oversees its strategy. He often speaks about e-commerce, Amazon, and leveraging AI strategies on webinars and conferences worldwide. He is also the author of the Amazon bestseller cheaper, easier, direct. Prior to Profasee. He founded Think Crucial and co-founded Cubana and the Prosper show. He is also a father, husband, and loves coffee and tacos. So with that, Chad, welcome to the Econ Breakthrough Podcast.Chad 00:00:35  Thank you for having me. Excited to be here.Josh 00:00:37  I want to ask you the question, Chad. You've you've gone through multiple exits. You have your own ecom brand. Why the focus on pricing and why is it so important at the end of the day?Chad 00:00:48  Yeah. So. Well, firstly, the reason why I was focused on price was that I was trying. I'm trying. I'm still working through it. I've been working on turning around my e-commerce business. It's been deteriorated over time. Didn't get a lot of love for me as I've been building other initiatives in my life.Chad 00:01:03  And so, you know, for me, I optimize spend and my ACOs, and I've been optimizing our conversion rate and my listings itself and the infographics on those listing pages. But the one thing that's driving the most to the bottom line is a very small lever, and it swings big doors, but it's not being swung with price. And I just couldn't understand why. Like if we have a $10,000 ad campaign, you would never leave it on. You would never leave it on optimized, you'd always be optimizing it. So why is nobody optimizing price? Because it's a it's hard to understand and it's very manual. And by the time you make the change to the price, the market shifted. So this is why I focus on it. And it's a juicy it's a delicious problem.Josh 00:01:50  It really is. And it can provide I mean it's a huge impact to your bottom line, right? If you want to, you know, increase your bottom line, the best way to do it is just by raising your prices.Josh 00:02:01  Says Roland Frazier, one of the previous guests that we've had on the show. One of the things that he does first, when he acquires any businesses is he simply raises prices. Because to your point, so many brands do not touch their price. They're too scared to be honest with you because they're like, well, I like sales where they're at. If I raise them, you know, 10%, 25%, I'm going to lose it. All right. And I think I actually fell in that camp prior to all of the inflationary environment that we've been in recently with Amazon continually increasing their FBA fees. You've got manufacturers increasing, you know, the cost of goods that you're purchasing from them. ACOs is going up ads. So with all of that, like our back was against the wall, although I felt like, hey, 1999 is kind of the that's the tipping point. You go over the $20 like you cross that mental bridge of $20 and something cents Since all heck is going to break loose, right? And I'm just going to be in a downward spiral, lose my market share.Josh 00:03:08  And on the contrary, we raise the price by $5, increase the price by 25%, and still maintain we were currently the number two best seller in that entire product category. Didn't move a needle. We stayed right there. Now we've got more profit coming to the bottom line. So I want to ask you the question, Chad. Like, are you seeing the same thing with a lot of the clients that you're working with and these early users of the software, that there is more room to increase prices on Amazon, and it's not affecting organic rankings or it's not a spiral downward. Or are you seeing the opposite true of hey, really like lower your price? Yeah, you get margin compression. But man, you you shoot to the roof and you stay locked in in those top positions. What what have you seen.Chad 00:03:57  Well, okay. So Profasee in general is about maximizing profit without sacrificing your BSR. So there's a lot of people in the Amazon space that say, just raise prices. And that's a lot of times could be reckless advice and insight, right? Because like, pricing isn't one size fits all.Chad 00:04:14  And yes, pricing needs to change. But the question is should it go up or should it go down because you can increase price and that may offset demand and you can lower price. It may spur demand. It'll increase ...

Mansour Narouzi, Partner at Incrementum Digital and a mastermind behind scaling 7- and 8-figure brands on Amazon. He’s helped brands crush it across multiple distribution channels and knows how to unlock maximum value from each marketplace. If you’re looking to supercharge your growth, you’ll want to hear this one.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Transition from civil engineering to Amazon selling and advertising expertise.Importance of understanding customer touchpoints in advertising.Overview of Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) and its capabilities.Use of advanced audience segmentation and targeting strategies.Tracking customer journeys across multiple ad types and channels.Integration of direct-to-consumer website data with Amazon advertising.Measurement of marketing efficiency and cross-channel behavior.Strategies for retargeting audiences, particularly those who added to cart but did not purchase.Insights on brand tailored promotions and their effectiveness.Importance of data analysis and custom reporting for optimizing advertising performance.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Mansour Narouzi, partner at Incrementum Digital and Amazon advertising expert. Mansour shares his journey from civil engineering to Amazon success, then delves into advanced Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) strategies. He explains how AMC enables brands to analyze customer journeys, create targeted and lookalike audiences, and optimize ad campaigns. The discussion covers retargeting, brand tailored promotions, and using analytics tools to measure campaign impact. Listeners gain actionable insights on leveraging AMC and Amazon’s latest advertising features to boost sales and outpace competitors.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Dive Into Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) NowAccess AMC via the Insights tab in your advertising console.Start with pre-built templates and the AI assistant to ease the learning curve.Focus on building custom and lookalike audiences for smarter targeting.Experiment with Audience Segmentation and RetargetingRetarget “add to cart” audiences with Sponsored Product campaigns and brand tailored promotions.Use lookalike audiences based on high-value customers, not just any segment.Create separate campaigns for each audience to maximize control and results.Leverage Brand Tailored Promotions and Measure EverythingLayer promotions on top of targeted audiences for a conversion boost.Use customer journey analytics to track drop-off rates and brand search trends.Build custom dashboards to monitor performance and inform decisions.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comManychatAmazon Marketing CloudAmazon Advertising ConsoleBrand MetricsBrand Tailored PromotionsCustomer Loyalty TabCustomer Journey AnalyticsVisual Studio CodeGeminiIncrementum DigitalThe E-MythKevin KingSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorThis episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaJosh Hadley 00:00:00  What was their first exposure to the brand so that you can understand, hey, this is actually what's like attracting demand generation for your listings and for your brand. That to me is what you highlighted. So it's like if auto campaigns, let's just assume if auto campaigns are are like the first bite at the apple for whatever reason for your brand. Like that's people's first exposure to your brand. Well, guess what happens if you decide to turn off auto campaigns because you heard it at some conference that auto campaigns are bad, right? Well, now you're shooting yourself in the foot because that was people's first interaction with you.Intro 00:00:41  Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take your business to the next level.Josh Hadley 00:00:54  Struggling to know the best way to optimize your Amazon ad campaigns with all the recent changes. And do you want to know the latest tools and levers inside of Seller Central to grow your sales? Well, today's guest has managed over $100 million in Amazon ad spend and knows exactly how to crack that code on Amazon.Josh Hadley 00:01:14  Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast. I'm your host, Josh Hadle...

In this episode, the host interviews Josh Gibson, founder of Sojourn Group Consulting, about strategies for growing e-commerce sales on marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart. Josh shares expert tips on protecting profit margins, optimizing product listings, leveraging Amazon’s NARF program for international expansion, and efficiently managing inventory shipments. He discusses the benefits and challenges of expanding to Walmart and other platforms, emphasizes the importance of strong team communication, and recommends trusted industry resources. The episode concludes with actionable takeaways for maximizing sales and diversifying channels for long-term growth.Chapters:Introduction to Josh Gibson and Sojourn Group Consulting (00:00:00)Overview of Josh’s background, company focus, and personal life.Protecting Margins on Amazon: Categories, Weights, and Inbound Shipments (00:01:15)Importance of tracking product categories, weights, dimensions, and optimizing inbound shipments to protect margins.Challenges of Managing Amazon Shipments and Auditing (00:02:19)Issues with Amazon’s inventory reconciliation and the need for ongoing auditing to avoid losses.Prioritizing Marketplace Expansion and Expected Sales Lift (00:03:10)Discussion on which marketplaces to expand to first and typical sales lift percentages.Expanding with Amazon NARF (North America Remote Fulfillment) (00:03:50)How NARF enables easy expansion to Canada and Mexico, and the expected 7% sales lift.Considering Deeper International Expansion (00:04:53)When to consider establishing a physical presence in Canada or Mexico for further growth.Selling on Walmart Marketplace: Opportunities and Challenges (00:04:53)Walmart’s marketplace growth, operational challenges, and the shift to Walmart Fulfilled Services.Walmart Advertising and Early-Stage Advantages (00:05:49)Opportunities in Walmart’s less competitive ad platform and strategies for early success.Walmart Sales Lift and Rural Market Penetration (00:06:56)Typical 5–10% sales lift on Walmart, with strong performance in rural and Midwest areas.Three Actionable Takeaways for Marketplace Sellers (00:08:49)Maximize success on your primary channel.Fully optimize listings, especially for mobile.Expand to new marketplaces after optimizing the first.Optimizing Amazon Listings for Mobile and Conversion (00:09:48)Detailed tips for optimizing titles, images, videos, and A+ content for better conversion.Expanding to Additional Marketplaces Beyond Amazon and Walmart (00:10:54)Consider Target, eBay, Newegg, Etsy, and Wayfair for incremental revenue after maximizing Amazon and Walmart.Most Influential Book Recommendation (00:12:31)Gary Vee’s books and content for building a brand and leveraging social media.Favorite Productivity Tool or Resource (00:15:00)Slack for team communication and the importance of a fast, reliable computer.Most Admired E-commerce Influencers (00:16:14)Recommendations to follow Steven Pope, Bradley from Helium 10, and Kevin King for free, valuable content.Closing Remarks and Appreciation (00:17:26)Harry thanks Josh for sharing actionable insights and expertise.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites  Sojourn Group Consulting Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) NARF (North American Remote Fulfillment) Walmart Connect Helium 10 Influential People  Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee) on LinkedInSteven Pope from My Amazon Guy on LinkedIn Bradley Sutton from Helium 10 on LinkedIn  Kevin King on LinkedIn Events  Sell and Scale Summit Productivity Tool:SlackTranscript:Josh Hadley 00:00:00  Today I'm super excited to introduce you to Josh Gibson. over the past 20 years, Josh has been leading sojourn Group consulting, a company with a strong e-commerce focus. Sojourn Group consulting specializes in marketplace sales, and has evolved from being a third party seller into an agency that helps other sellers grow their marketplace presence without having to hire a full team. Their years of experience and team make their bolt on solution very simple for many companies. Outside of work, he is happily married for 15 years and is the father of four children ages eight, six, four and two. That makes him very busy at this stage in his life. He says there's little time for anything except work and family. So welcome to the podcast, Josh.Josh Gibson 00:00:45  Thank you. Thanks for having me.Josh Hadley 00:00:46  Well, with how busy you are with a young and growing family and the business, we're excited to have you share some of your time with us. So thanks again for joining us. What else is there that you know? You're saying that Amazon eats your margin for business lunch and dinner or for breakfast? Lunch and dinner, right? So what else is there that you know, people should be paying attention to? And Amazon specifically for now that, you know, there could be a lot of, you know, marginally going out the business.Josh Gibson 00:01:15  Yeah. I mean, it's important to to track your weights and your gyms and your categories of what products you're selling in because there's some products. Say you're selling a printer. A printer should be in an 8% category, but sometimes they'll slide into a 15% category. So you're losing that that amount of money. You don't see it unless you're tracking tracking it. Or they could dim it out wrong. Say something. They as they went through their Cuba scan, it dimmed out incorrectly. So being able to go in and update and fix those dimensions and then do do file backs on those. also trying to find better, more efficient ways to do inbound shipments. and so there's, there's tools out there that we use that can take like right now we're running a full truckload, for $400, inbound FBA, where that same truckload going, another the route could be 3 to $4000. So it's the more time you do this. And the nice thing about our team is we can sit in a bullpen and go, okay, what are you guys learning? What'd you find out? and trying to take our collective knowledge, plus being able to go to, like, this, scale and sell summit and meet other people that know more things and aggregate this information to become more valuable.Josh Gibson 00:02:19  which, to your point is, if you're an owner operator trying to do this yourself, it becomes complicated because you don't have the resources and the ability to to learn all these things. Yeah. But to your point, it's it's the weight in gems. It is the categories. It is inbound shipments. I'm blanking on a few others, but it's really managing that protection of your bottom line. that's important. And it's also like specifically with inbound shipments is the annoying part is you can get that FBI ID cleared, they can say fully received. And we've seen with some clients ten, 12 months later, they say, actually we're five short. And if you're not going back and reordering those, even though you thought you did a good job auditing it. You can los...

Stefano Pretto, the CEO of Nomadz, a PPC profit-focused agency and coaching company helping Amazon sellers optimize every dollar of their ad spend. With a team of seasoned Amazon experts, Nomadz provides PPC management that rivals the best in-house PPC teams, all backed by data-driven insights and a commitment to transparent, caring partnerships.Whether you're looking to build a personalized roadmap for growth or just tired of wasting money on inefficient campaigns, Stefano’s approach is all about action, clarity, and results.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Amazon PPC (pay-per-click) advertising strategiesCommon mistakes in PPC campaigns, including overspending on product page placementsImportance of analyzing placement reports and reallocating ad spendCampaign and budget allocation best practices for profitabilityConsistency in managing PPC campaigns and accountabilityDeciding between in-house PPC management and outsourcing to agenciesFramework for transitioning from agency to in-house PPC managementHiring strategies for PPC talent, including candidate assessment and sourcing methodsImportance of building a strong in-house PPC team for scaling businessesDeveloping standard operating procedures (SOPs) and processes for effective PPC managementIn this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Stefano Prieto, CEO of Nomadz, about optimizing Amazon PPC campaigns. Stefano shares common mistakes sellers make, such as overspending on ineffective ad placements and inconsistent campaign management. He offers actionable strategies for budget allocation, emphasizes the importance of consistent PPC oversight, and discusses when to transition from agency to in-house management. The episode also covers best practices for hiring top PPC talent, building strong teams, and leveraging data-driven approaches to maximize profitability and scale Amazon businesses efficiently.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Prioritize PPC as a core competency – Treat Amazon ads seriously, invest proper resources, and don’t assign it to underqualified team members.Use agencies strategically – If PPC feels overwhelming, partner with a proven agency while preparing to train someone internally to take it over as you scale.Hire top talent across functions – Continuously bring in A-players (PPC, supply chain, product dev, etc.) to build a strong moat, sustain premium pricing, and fuel long-term growth.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comAmazon PPC Placement ReportAmazon Marketing CloudNomadz AgencyUpworkOnlineJobs.phManus AILovableAlex Hormozi's FrameworkHow to Stop SmokingSo Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal NewportEcomm Breakthrough YouTube ChannelDr. Ellis Whitehead on LinkedInSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaStefano 00:00:00  And it's, you know, like my our first app. It's always to see how they are doing with their PPC. And it's amazing to see the new like the people that come to us, they are making always the same mistakes over and over again. And the first big one I would highly suggest to everyone who is watching this video to analyze.Intro 00:00:19  Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take your business to the next level.Josh Hadley 00:00:33  Are you ready to learn the best Amazon PPC strategies working right now, or are you ready to learn whether you should bring PPC in-house or let an agency do it? Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast. I'm your host, Josh Hadley. I scaled my own brand from 0 to 8 figures in sales, and now my mission is to take it to nine plus figures on my journey to nine figures. I bring you unfiltered conversations with the smartest minds in e-commerce.Josh Hadley 00:00:59  Past guests include Kevin King, Michael Gerber, and Brandon Young. Today, I am excited to welcome you all to Stefano Prieto. He is the CEO of Nomadz, a PPC profit focused agency that and coaching company that is helping Amazon sellers optimize every dollar of their ad spend. With a team of seasoned Amazon experts, Nomadz provides PPC management that rivals the best in-house PPC teams, all backed by data driven insights and a commitment to transparent, caring partnerships. So whether you're looking to build a personalized roadmap for growth o...